The Collaborative International Dictionary
bacitracin \bacitracin\ n. (1940) [Bacillus + Margaret Tracy, (a
child whose tissues contained Bacillus subtilis) + -in.
--RHUD.]
a polypeptide antibacterial antibiotic of known chemical
structure effective against several types of Gram-positive
organisms, and usually used topically for superficial local
infection.
Note: It is produced by Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus
licheniformis, and as produced commercially is
composed of several closely related substances. The
predominant component, Bacitracin A, has a formula
C60H103N17O16S, and contains D-ornithine,
D-phenylalanine and D-glutamine residues as well as the
L-isomers of leucine, isoleucine, histidine, asparagine
and aspartic acid.
--[MI11]